The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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| II. |
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| II. |
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| IV. |
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| X. |
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| XVIII. |
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| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLIII. |
| XLIV. |
| II. |
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| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
32
“IF BUT THE DEAD WERE LIFTED QUITE”
If but the dead were lifted quite
To some glad land of heavenly air;
If they could vanish—all that once they were
At one swift stroke be riven from mortal sight;
To some glad land of heavenly air;
If they could vanish—all that once they were
At one swift stroke be riven from mortal sight;
Then...then we might revere
The hand that fashioned, and the hand that slew:
Then might we say, “The loving soul we knew
Lives on, loves on,—no trace of it is here.”
The hand that fashioned, and the hand that slew:
Then might we say, “The loving soul we knew
Lives on, loves on,—no trace of it is here.”
Alas! a trace remains.
Death doing so much, left still his task undone.
Death paused,—and left a mandate to the rains,
The frosts, the snows of years—the storms, the sun!
Death doing so much, left still his task undone.
Death paused,—and left a mandate to the rains,
The frosts, the snows of years—the storms, the sun!
May 16, 1892.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |